2006-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006
A good war-date Union soldier's, 4pp. 8vo., letter written in pencil by Sgt. William H. Broughton, Co. D, 16th Maine Vols., "Camp near Sharpsburg, [Md.], Sept. 23, 62 to his father describing some of the sights and sounds of the Antietam battlefield, reading, in part: "…we have been through considerable excitement, we started from the camp…on Wednesday morning, Sept 17th…the deep booming of the cannon could be heard, the Regiment marched about 17 miles that day…the Col was sick so we went on under our Lieut. Colonel, who is the best officer in the Regiment…we past over the battlefield, it was an awful sight. The Rebel dead could be seen at every step, Hartsuff's brigade…fought like tigers, we are encamped about 1 mile from the Potomac…I went down to the river and swam across, it was rather dangerous…to do so but I was bound to say I swam across the Potomac, since then they have put pickets down to the river and will not let us go in swimming without a pass. I saw Harry Smith…he was wounded at the battle of Cedar Mountain…one bullet passing between his side and right arm…also…a bullet grazed his hand. Tell J.G. Libby that both of his brothers are all right, they were both in the great battle of Wednesday. It is hard work to get a commission…there is a rumor around camp that the Col. has resigned. I have got tired of volunteer Officers, they don't know any thing, I would rather have a sergeancy in the Regular Army than a Captaincy in the Volunteer Service…do all you can to get me in the Regular Army, or…get me a commission under Col. Lynch, I would like it. I can get recommendations from most of the officers in the regiment…I have had quite a number of Line Officers come to me for information…if there a chance in the Regiment for a commission I shall probably get it…". Ten days after his sixteenth birthday, Broughton enlisted in 1862 as a private in the 16th Maine. He became one of the army's youngest officers by being promoted to lieutenant by the end of the year. After the battle of Gettysburg, he commanded a company due to the heavy losses his regiment sustained during the battle. He served faithfully throughout the remainder of the war and was captured at the battle of Weldon Railroad, Va. on Aug. 13, 1864, and was paroled after being held a short time at Libby prison. He was discharged on June 5, 1865. Minor spotting, else very good.
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